For my money, the title of quickest draw in the game is caught somewhere between Blackalicious rhymer Gift of Gab and his Bay Area counterpart Lyrics Born. And on evidence from his inferno-like show at the new Brighton Music Hall in Allston Friday night, the championship trophy may reside these days in the home of the latter.
Coming out to a raucous reception from a small but dedicated crowd, Lyrics Born set fire to tracks from 2008 album Everywhere At Once (Epitaph) such as “Don’t Change” and “Hot 2 Def” immediately, with nonstop transitions into newer material from his latest album As U Were (Decon) like “Kontrol Freak” and “I Wanna B W/U.”
His albums and mix tapes are known for their frenetic pace (matching his rapping style), and his live show more than lived up to the billing, with his four-piece backing band switching from track to track without a pause for breath. An entertaining performer, Lyrics Born cultivated the adoration of the crowd with his wide-ranging rhymes and contagiously upbeat demeanor, pushing those assembled to pack in as close to the stage as possible.
Though Lyrics Born has often operated on the fringes of the mainstream, finding more shelter under the umbrella of the underground scene than he has on the radio, he has achieved success with a few major single releases, among those “I Like It, I Love It” from Everywhere At Once and “Lies (X3)” from As U Were, and the group duly ran through those numbers as well. But while they were classic audience participation tracks, complete with easily-sung choruses that bookended his spitfire rhymes, it was the lesser known songs that really showcased how impressive his skills really are.
The show stretched over an hour and a half, with an encore that featured backup singer Joyo Velarde on “I Changed My Mind.” Complete with the experience of being in the newly revamped venue, Lyrics Born left an impression of a man giving his all to his music. Here’s hoping he keeps pumping out new material with anything resembling the speed at which he pumps out his words.
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